Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NBA match.
The Golden State Warriors are locked in a battle for the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They’ve drawn level with the Los Angeles Clippers in terms of wins and now need to push ahead. Their next opponent is the Eastern Conference underdog, the Charlotte Hornets, who come into this game on a six-game losing streak.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets’ biggest issue is their offence. Over the past five games, they have averaged just 92.8 points per contest, despite having all their key players available. Meanwhile, their defence has completely crumbled. Although the Hornets allow an average of 112.8 points per game this season, they have exceeded that mark in five of their seven games since the All-Star break, conceding an average of 120.1 points in this stretch.
Golden State Warriors
With the addition of Jimmy Butler, the Warriors have flourished, winning seven of their last nine games. Over this period, they have averaged 121.6 points per game. Stephen Curry has been on fire, posting 31.1 points per game with an impressive 49% shooting from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc. In a recent game against the Orlando Magic, he exploded for 56 points, making 12 of 19 three-pointers. Butler has also been a strong contributor, adding 16 points per game. Defensively, the Warriors are solid, ranking 11th in the league and allowing just 111 points per game on average.
Charlotte Hornets vs Golden State Warriors Prediction
These two teams met in San Francisco just a week ago, where the Warriors dismantled the Hornets (128:92) with ease. Given the short turnaround and the Hornets’ ongoing struggles, this matchup is likely to follow the same script.
